Family Support Waiver

The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver program provides person-centered individualized supports that assist children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live successfully in their home and community.

The Family Supports Waiver is one of two of the Indiana Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services administered by the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services.

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Services Provided
  • Adult Day Services
  • Behavioral Support Services
  • Case Management
  • Community-Based Habilitation – Group
  • Community-Based Habilitation – Individual
  • Extended Services Facility-Based Habilitation – Group
  • Facility-Based Habilitation – Individual
  • Facility-Based Support Services
  • Family and Caregiver Training
  • Intensive Behavioral Intervention
  • Music Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Participant Assistance and Care
  • Personal Emergency Response System
  • Physical Therapy
  • Psychological Therapy
  • Prevocational Services
  • Recreational Therapy
  • Respite
  • Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies
  • Speech/Language Therapy
  • Transportation
  • Workplace Assistance

Am I elegible?

To qualify for the Family Support Waiver, a you must have been diagnosed with an intellectual disability, developmental disability or related condition with an onset prior to the age of 22 years and the condition must be expected to continue indefinitely.


Additionally, you must meet Level of Care. This means that the child or adult has substantial functional limitations in at least three of six major life areas: 

  • self-care
  • learning
  • self-direction
  • capacity for independent living
  • understanding and use of language
  • mobility

You must also meet the requirements of eligibility for a compatible Medicaid category. If you are under the age of 18 years, household income eligibility requirements for Medicaid are not considered and only the income/assets of the child is taken into consideration. If the individual/family is requesting Medicaid coverage for the 90 days prior to the Medicaid application date, then household income eligibility requirements are taken into consideration. If you are age 18 years and above, you must apply and be found eligible for benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Is there a wait list?

It is the policy of the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services that individuals may be placed on a single statewide wait list after applying for waiver services and meeting Level of Care criteria. Individuals will be targeted in the order they applied for services, from the oldest date of application to the newest.

You and your guardians are responsible for ensuring that personal contact information is kept up to date with your local BDDS office. You and your family can review and update your contact information and waiver application dates by visiting the BDDS Wait list Web Portal or by contacting your local BDDS district offce.

What is priority criteria?

Priority criteria allows the following individuals to obtain the Family Support Waiver without being placed on the wait list:

  • Adults ages 18 through 24 who have aged out of, graduated from or have permanently separated from their school setting
  • Dependents of military active duty members and veterans